Just one day before Saratoga racing kicks into high gear, the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court has upheld the 10-year revocation of Rick Dutrow’s training license by a unanimous vote. The Appellate Court said Thursday the State Racing and Wagering Board’s revocation of Dutrow’s license was legally justified and was based on a claim he “engaged in conduct that was improper and inconsistent with the public interest and the best interests of racing.”

The Racing and Wagering Board released a statement that read: “While a court-ordered stay of the board’s action is in effect until Mr. Dutrow exhausts his remaining legal options, the board is pleased with the court’s decision.”

Dutrow originally was given a 90-day suspension for a drug positive after officials found the painkiller butorphanol in a urine sample from Fastus Cactus, the last-place finisher in a race on Nov. 20, 2010, at Aqueduct. After a subsequent search of his barn, Dutrow was found to be in possession of hypodermic needles and the suspension was increased by the New York State Racing and Wagering Board to a full revocation of his license. Dutrow appealed the decision while continuing to train and race horses from his Aqueduct-based barn.

Dutrow plans to take his case to the Court of Appeals, but the court has the right to decide whether or not to hear the case. According to sources, the stay Dutrow obtained last year to delay the revocation will remain in effect until his case is heard. Dutrow, who has three horses scheduled to start on opening day at Saratoga, will most likely continue to race for the remainder of the meet.

Frank “Pancho” Martin, the Hall of Fame trainer who dominated the NYRA circuit during the 1970s and early 1980s, died Wednesday night at his home in Garden City, N.Y., following a brief illness. He was 86.

Martin, a native of Havana, Cuba, was best known as the trainer of Sham, who finished second to Secretariat in the 1973 Kentucky Derby and Preakness, before running out of gas in the Belmont Stakes. “His favorite horse was Sham,” said Martin’s son, Greg. “He always loved Sham.”

In a career that spanned more than 60 years, Martin saddled 3,240 winners and earned more than $47.5 million, according to Equibase. Although not as active in recent years, in 2012, Martin saddled 77 starters, finishing second five times and third twice.

Dutrow’s license had been revoked last year with the condition he could re-apply in 10 years and he was fined $50,000 for a pattern of abusing various rules violations.

The NYSR&WB upgraded the penalty to a full revocation of Dutrow’s license, stating the 53-year-old trainer is a “person whose conduct at racetracks in New York State and elsewhere has been improper, obnoxious, unbecoming, and detrimental to the best interests of racing.”

Dutrow responded and maintained his innocence, saying racing board chairman John Sabini had been improperly influenced in his decision by Ed Martin, the president of the Association of Racing Commissioners International. Martin is the former executive director of the New York racing agency.

The allegation of an unfair hearing was rejected by the appeals court and it defended the racing board on its actions toward the drug positive found with Fastus Cactus.

Three horses have been euthanized after suffering injuries during non-betting steeplechase races held at Saratoga Race Course’s annual open house.

National Steeplechase Association Director of Racing Bill Gallo says the injuries occurred separately in each of the first three races during last weekend’s 32nd-annual event.

Two of the horses sustained injuries while on flat ground, while the third was injured during a hurdle.